International Antalya Film Festival

The Antalya Film Festival, originally known as the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, has been illuminating Antalya, Turkey, every year since 1963. It is the second most prominent film festival in Turkey and has been exclusively organized by the Antalya Foundation for Culture and Arts since 2009. Held during the autumn months at the Antalya Cultural Center, the festival showcases both national and international film competitions.

The festival's origins date back to the 1950s when cultural events took place at the Aspendos Amphitheatre. In 1963, under the leadership of Dr. Avni Tolunay, it was transformed into a film festival. Over the years, it gained international recognition and became an institutionalized event under the Antalya Culture and Arts Foundation in 2002.

A panel of cinema and cultural experts judges the films in various categories. The festival awards the prestigious Golden Orange statuette in three main categories: national feature films, national documentaries, and national short films. There are also special awards such as the Dr. Avni Tolunay Jury Special Award and the Behlül Dal Digitürk Jury Special Award for Young Talent.

The festival opens at the Konyaaltı Amphitheatre and concludes with an award ceremony at the historic Aspendos Amphitheatre. However, it has not been without its controversies. In 2014, a documentary about the Gezi protests was removed from the lineup due to alleged legal violations, prompting protests from the jury and leading several members to resign in support of the filmmaker.

Despite such setbacks, the Antalya Film Festival remains a cornerstone event that celebrates Turkish cinema, fosters international collaboration, and honors excellence within the film industry.